Gosport District Scout Council

  This year, the Emlyn trophy county camping competition as held at Foxlease guide campsite just outside of Lyndhurst in the New Forest over the weekend of 10-12^th September. Teams competing from Gosport were the 7^th and 5^th, as they came top in the Ellis shield competition in June earlier this year. This year 8 teams arrived to take part in the Emlyn from all over the county, and the judging team and site crew was again re-united. After being assigned their site and having arrival inspection, the teams were left to put up their sites as desired.

 

Marking began for the judges on Friday evening, when they were split into two groups and assigned to either marking menu’s or programmes. This year I was on the menu team and we spent a fair amount of time trying to decide how balanced and how original the menus were, one that caught everyone’s attention was a site that was cooking spit roast pigeon. I kid you not.

 

The bulk of the judging began after flagbreak at 10am on Saturday morning. The judges were split into their respective groups and went off to inspect each site. From what I saw whilst judging, there was a high standard of teamwork and co-operation, as well as high standards of camping skills. It was a great way to share knowledge and experience, and to give constrictive criticism and reasoning as to why things were done, all of which was welcomed by every team competing.

 

At 6pm on Saturday, the evening meals were to be judged. I was lucky enough not to have the pigeon, but to have roast beef instead. The teams worked hard to produce some creative and interesting meals, and many of the judges looked on in amazement as the PL of dead pigeon team plucked and gutted and chopped to make his pigeons look edible.

 

That evening, the traditional campfire was arranged, thanks to the scrounging and begging of some of the leaders. Once again (As is tradition at Emlyn) the spectacle of the campfire stunt with all the judges lined up singing, ready to hit each other, was performed. Bill also produced his poetry and prose, which as always left the audience amazed as to how he manages to do it. Even after the scouts had gone to bed, Bill surprised the staff with his magic tricks and codes, leaving some puzzled and me smug.

 

The next morning was breakfast judging, no dead pigeons here, and scouts own. Usually I don’t enjoy scouts own, as I am neither religious nor a morning person, yet the Emlyn scouts own is very different, and penfold always has us up and involved with the story. However after the fun came more judging for the teams. Luckily a lot of the scouts had listened to our advice and had gained marks on yesterday’s scores. The special project was marked as well, which was this year a playground. Very original and challenging for all taking part! Due to this, a group of cub scouts and beavers were invited to come and try out the equipment built.

 

Lastly on the Sunday, was final site inspection. This is usually the most favoured inspection by the judges, as many like to show how cruel they can be by getting on their hands and knees. However this year it was raining so it was a quick saunter around the site and be done with it, before the presentations.

Everyone gathered in the courtyard to hear the result of a weekend of hard work and fun. The special project was announced first, and then the competition itself. It was very tense as we got down to the final three, knowing that one Gosport team were at least 2^nd place. It was even tenser when it was down to the final two, and one team were first. This year, the 7^th came 1^st and the 5^th came 2^nd. Both teams having walked away with a trophy of some sort, and this I believe is a first for Gosport and the county, for one district to win 1^st and 2^nd place. A great time was had by all, except the pigeons.

Fiona Durrant

   Gosport explorer